Newport City Council has launched an innovative new trial of Kerbo Charge charging gullies at various locations across the city.
The solution makes electric vehicle charging accessible to the thousands of homes without off-street parking, with the aim of bridging the gap for sustainable transport, and incentivising the uptake of electric vehicles.
The company’s new charging gullies, designed and manufactured in the UK, are a home charging solution for EV owners who lack a private driveway.
By integrating a shallow cross-pavement channel into the pavement, residents can safely connect their vehicle to their home electricity supply without causing a trip hazard. The cable is securely housed within the channel, and once charging is complete, the self-closing lid snaps shut for a smooth, flush finish.
The council took the move as there are an estimated 22,000 homes in Newport lacking off-street parking, and, according to Zap Map data, domestic charging can save on average £1,150 annually compared to public charging stations on prices at the time of writing.
Newport is the second local authority in Wales to trial the product. If successful, the local authority said it could make it available city-wide.
Councillor Yvonne Forsey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:
“Part of our work to expand the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Newport is looking at innovative solutions such as charging gullies”
“While our EV charging network coverage across the city is good, we still need to find ways of making EV charging more accessible, particularly to homes with no off-street parking.
“We believe that charging gullies can make a difference, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of the trial.”
Kerbo Charge’s founder, Michael Goulden, added:
” Congratulations to Newport City Council for trialling innovative new technology that completely removes one of the major barriers for EV adoption for Newport residents – the high cost and inconvenience of charging your car when you don’t have a driveway”
Image courtesy of Kerbo Charge
